Process for periodate oxidation of polysaccharides



3,086,969 PROCESS FOR PEODATE OXIDATKON F POLYSACCHARIDES James Slager, Zeeland, Mich, assignor to Miles Laboratories, Inc, Elkhart, Ind, a corporation of Indiana No Drawing. Filed June 27, 1960, Ser. No. 38,735 6 Claims. (Cl. 260-209) This invention relates to a process for the preparation of dialdehyde polysaccharides. In one of its more particular aspects this invention relates to an improved process for the oxidation of polysaccharides to dialdehyde polysaccharides wherein the oxidation is carried out by periodic acid.

The selective oxidation of 1,2-glycols by periodate ions has been known in the art for many years. The technique of this selective oxidation was first applied to polysaccharlde materials by Jackson and Hudson who reported their work in the Journal of the American Chemical $061612), vol. 59, at page 2049', in 1937. The reaction involved proceeds 1n accordance with the following equation:

Equation 1:

H H J/ \s on H /i o- +HIO4 L A... 1.

wherein X represents the number of repeating polymer units in the molecule of dialdehyde polysaccharide mate rial which in the case of starch, for example, may vary firom as few as twenty to as many as several thousand. Since this work was completed, significant advances have been made in the electrolytic preparation of dialdehyde polysaccharides exemplified by US. Patent No. 2,648,- 629 to William Dvonch and Charles L. Mehltretter, No. 2,713,553, No. 2,770,589 and No. 2,830,941 to Charles L. Mehltretter.

The prior art processes, although providing the desired dialdehyde polysaccharides, are subject to the disadvantage that the yields of dialdehyde polysaccharides so prepared and the quality of such dialdehyde polysaccharides are relatively low, especially for commercial application. In particular, separation of the products of these processes results in contamination of the products with various undesirable by-products which makes the over all process less commercially desirable.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a process which is capable of producing dialdehy-de polysaccharides of a higher purity and in increased yield.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an improved process which is readily adaptable to inclusion in the usual processes of dialdehyde polysaccharide production.

Another object of this invention is to provide a process for the preparation of dialdehyde polysaccharides which is easy to use and commercially practicable.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a process for the conversion of polysaccharides to dialdehyde polysaccharides which are relatively uncontami- 3,085,959 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 p CC mated with undesirable lay-products or with materials introduced in the course of converting the polysaccharides to dialdehyde polysaccharides.

Other objectives and advantages of this invent-ion will become apparent in the course of the following detailed disclosure and description.

It has now been found that improved yields of periodate oxidized polysaccharides of a high purity may be obtained by adjusting the hydrogen ion concentration of the periodic acid solution used as the oxidizing agent to a point below about pH 1.0 prior to contacting the polysaccharide material to be oxidized with such periodic acid solution. Although it is possible to prepare dialdehyde polysaccharides by periodic acid oxidation using a periodic acid solution having a hydrogen ion concentration of above about pH 1.0 this practice is undesriable for a number of reasons. First, at a hydrogen ion concentration of above about pH 1.0, in order to obtain a product which is not highly contaminated with iodate ions, it is necessary to use a concentration of periodic acid solution which is below about 10% of the weight of the total reactants. This, of course, results in relatively poorer yields of dialdehyde polysaccharide per unit volume of reactants.

A second disadvantage of the use of periodic acid solutions having a hydrogen ion concentration of above about pH 1.0 is that a somewhat inferior product results from the use of correspondingly lesser concentrated reactant solutions.

Still a third disadvantage is the necessity for using a complex and difficult washing procedure to obtain materials of a useful purity. The concomitant loss of iodate ion and dialdehyde polysaccharide product by virtue of such washing results in making such process relatively uneconomical to operate.

However, when the hydrogen ion concentration of the periodic acid oxidizing solution is adjusted to below about pH 1.0 greater concentrations of reactants may be used and surprisingly economical yields obtained.

A wide variety of dialdehyde polysaccharides may be advantageously prepared according to the process of this invention. For example, starches such as corn starch, wheat starch, tapioca starch and potato starch, celluloses, dextrins, dextrans, inulin and related materials may be used.

The periodic acid solution for the oxidation reaction may be conveniently prepared by the process described in US. Patent No. 2,830,941 to Charles L. Mehltretter. This electrolytic process involves the conversion of iodine to iodate ion in the presence of an alkali and the further conversion of iodate ion to periodate ion in an acid medium. The anolyte fromthe electrolytic reaction is normally filtered to remove lead dioxide particles and used directly to oxidize polysaccharide materials. It has been found that the periodic acid solution from this process may have a hydrogen ion concentration of from about pH 0.5 to pH 1.6 depending upon the concentration of the solution. In tabular form below are given the pH values of various concentrations of periodic acid.

TABLE 1 pH of Periodic Acid Solutions Concentration, percent: pH 1.25 1.6 2.50 1.3 5.00 1.1 10.00 0.8 20.00 0.7

The adjustment of the hydrogen ion concentration of the periodic acid solution for use in the process of this invention may be conveniently accomplished by adding to the periodic acid solution any strong acid which is not oxidized or reduced under the reaction conditions used in the process of this invention. For example, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or formic acid may be used for this purpose. Other acids may also be used if desired, but

halogen acids are not desirable for this purpose because 'not high enough to cause hydrolysis of the polysaccharides 'to produce a difiicultly handled gelatinous material. In general, temperatures in the range of from about 30 C. to 35 C. have been found most efficient. However, temperatures on either side of this range may be used, depending upon the concentration of the reactants.

The time of reaction will of course depend upon the molar ratio of the reactants and the desired degree of conversion of the polysaccharide material to the dialdehyde polysaccharide. Products having a conversion of as high as about 98%, that is, those in which about 98% of the repeating polymer units of the polysaccharide have been converted to the dialdehyde may be obtained according to the process of this invention. In general, products having any desired percent of conversion to the dialdehyde may be obtained by selecting the proper molar ratio of the reactant and the time for conducting the reaction. Ordinarily the reaction is allowed to proceed until the desired quantity of periodate ions has been removed from the reaction mixture, that is, converted to iodate ions.

The time of reaction as above described will depend upon the product desired and the reactant concentrations but will in general vary between about 3 and 5 hours.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following examples which are included for purposes of illustration and are not to be construed as in any way limiting the scope of this invention.

EXAMPLE I Into a 50 gallon glass-lined jacketed reactor equipped with means for eflicient agitation there was placed 407 lbs. of an aqueous solution containing 52.8 lbs. of periodic acid. This represented a concentration of 13.0% by weight of periodic acid. The pH of this solution was 0.7. Agitation was commenced and to the agitating solution there was added 61.5 lbs. of pearl corn starch (defatted) containing 10% moisture or 55.3 lbs. of starch on a dry basis. This represented a charge of 15 wt. percent starch. The rate of addition was adjusted so that the temperature of the exothermic reaction ensuing was maintained by circulating cooling water through the reactor jacket, Within the range of from 30 C. to 32 C.

After the addition of the starch, the reaction was allowed to proceed to the point of completion. This point was determined by taking aliquot samples of the reaction mixture and testing for periodic acid. When the amount of the periodic acid in the aliquot (and the reaction :vessel) had reached a concentration of 1.75% by weight the reaction was considered to be complete. This point was reached in approximately 4 hours.

The oxidized starch was then separated from the re- 'acta nts by filtration, washed with a volume of water such that the total filtrate was equal to the volume of the initial reactant. Analysis of this filtrate indicated an iodate recovery of 98.0%.

The oxidized starch was again further washed with water and dried in an oven to less than 10% moisture 4. content. There was obtained 60 lbs. of dialdehyde starch, 8% moisture, which represents a yield of 99.5% of theory. The residual iodate in this product was 0.8%. The product was a white powder of excellent free-flowing characteristics and gave a stability test rating of AA.

This stability test, which was developed by the staff of the Northern Regional Laboratories of the United States Department of Agriculture, is commonly used in the art and is conducted as follows:

The alkali solubilization test is carried out in two stages. First, add 0.1 N NaOH solution to a sample of the dialdehyde starch in a small beaker in the weightra-tio of 1.5 to 1. This is 1.5-1.25 ml. solution per gram dialdehyde starch, depending on the moisture content of the latter. Mix thoroughly at room temperature with stirring rod for 3-4 minutes. Second, when there is no further change on mixing, warm on a steam bath to about 60 C. and continue mixing. Report the results of both stages of the test with letters representing observed behavior as follows:

First stage (mixing dialdehyde starch and 0.1 N NaOH):

ASolid takes up liquid completely in a few seconds to form a moist, crumby mixture.

B-Solid takes up liquid but requires a minute or more mixing.

CCreamy mixture forms; crumby solid condition is not attained.

D-Slurry remains unchanged for 3-4 minutes of mixing;

may thicken slightly on warming.

Second stage (warming to about 60 C. on steam bath):

ACrumbs glaze rapidly with Warming and pass quickly through pasty condition to a clear yellow solution. If a slurry at the start, may quickly lose opacity to become clear yellow solution.

BLonger heating necessary to dissolve or solution may contain some undissolved material (not to be confused with foam or gas bubbles).

CProduct of heating has two layers-one clear solution and the other undissolved material.

DNo perceptible change except darker color.

Thus AA represents the behavior dialdehyde starch, DD the aged material and others intermediate. This example shows that a product of exceptionally high purity is obtained in an excellent yield where the teachings of this invention are followed, that is, where the hydrogen ion concentration of the periodic acid solution is adjusted to below about pH 1. In this case by using a periodic acid solution of pH 0.7 in a concentration of 13.0% and a charge of 15% polysaccharide, an almost quantitative conversion was realized.

The following example illustrates that an unacceptable product is obtained when the hydrogen ion concentration of the periodic acid solution is of a level of above pH 1.0 and the reactant concentrations are of the same order of magnitude as in Example I.

EXAMPLE II of freshly prepared behavior of badly Into the reaction vessel described in Example I, there was placed 352 lbs. of an aqueous solution containing 43.5 lbs. of periodic acid. This represented a weight percent of 12.4%. This solution had a pH of 1.5. There was added to the reactor vessel 50.5 lbs. of pearl corn starch (defatted) containing 10% moisture or 45.5 lbs. of starch on a dry basis. This amount of starch represents a Weight percent concentration of 12.8%.

The reaction was maintained at a temperature of from 35 C. to 37 C. and reaction was completed after about 6% hours.

The reaction mixture was filtered to remove the product, which was washed with a volume of water such that the filtrate obtained was equal in volume to the volume of the initial reaction. Tests of the filtrate indicated an iodate ion concentration of 59% The product was further washed with water and dried in an oven to less than 10% moisture. There was oh- 6 moisture content (22.0 -lbs.dry basis), representing a concentration of 23.0 weight percent.

After about 3.5 hours at a temperature of between 30 C. and 32 C. the reaction was complete.

tained 48 lbs. of a highly colored product containing 5.0% The product was recovered in accordance with the moisture which was granular in appearance and turned procedures described in Example 1 above, the filtrate inpurple upon standing. Tests indicated that there was dicating an iodate recovery of 100%. 3.6% residual iodate ion in the product. It was consid- The finished product, 25.0 lbs., 5.2% moisture, repered to be unacceptable and was not submitted to the resenting a yield of 102% of theory, had a residual iodate stability test. content of 0% and gave a stability test rating of AA.

This example shows that when the hydrogen ion con- This example shows that by adjustment of the hydrogen centration of the oxidized solution of periodic acid is not ion concentration of the oxidizing solutions of periodic adjusted to below about pH 1.0 an unacceptable product acid to below about pH 1.0 the concentration of this reis obtained. As shown in Example I, adjustment of the actant may be increased so that an economical over-all hydrogen ion concentration of the periodic acid to a pH 5 yield of product is obtained. below about 1.0 results in excellent yields of acceptable As is pointed out above, the improved process of this product using concentrations of reactants in about the invention results in improved yields of a desirable prod same concentration as in this example. not and enables a process operator to obtain greater quan- The following example illustrates that an acceptable tities of product per unit volume of reactants. If concenproduct may be obtained without pH adjustment by the trations of reactants above about 10% are utilized without prior art process if low concentrations of reactants are adjustment of the pH of the periodate solution to below used. about pH 1.0, undesirable products are obtained.

EXAMPLE III For convenience in comparaision of the data given Following the procedure described in Example I above, above, it is set out in tabular form below.

TABLE 2 Wt. Wt. Reaction Reaction Residual Ex. No. Percent Percent pH HIOl Temp. Time 10; in Percent Stability H104 Starch Solution 0.) (hours) Product Yield Test (Percent) 13.0 15. 0 0. 7 -32 4 0. 04 99. 5 AA 12. 4 12. s 1. 5 -37 6. 5 3. 6 100 7. 0 5. 0 1. 5 35-37 7 0. 02 100. 5 AA 28. 0 23. 0 0. a 30-32 3. 5 0. 0 10 AA 322 lbs. of an aqueous solution containing 22.3 lbs. of To reiterate briefly, the present invention is directed to periodic acid, representing a concentration of 7.0% by an improved process for the preparation of dialdehyde weight, was charged to the reaction vessel. The pH of polysaccharides by periodic acid oxidation of polysacthis solution was pH 1.5. There was then charged to the charide materials. Specifically, the invention resides in reaction vessel, with stirring, 19.0 lbs. of pearl com the improvement which comprises maintaining the hystarch (defatted) of 10% moisture content. This repdnogen ion concentration of periodic acid at below about resented 17 lbs. on a dry basis and a reactant composition pH 1.0. Improved yields of a product having desirable of 5% by weight. properties are thereby obtained.

The reaction was maintained at a temperature of from What is claimed is: 35 C. to 37 C. for 7 hours after which time the reac- 1. A process for the periodic acid oxidation of polytion was determined to be complete on the basis of consaccharides comprising reacting a polysaccharide with (a centration of iodate then present. solution of periodic acid having a concentration of at The product was filtered from the reaction mixture and least 10% by weight of the total reactants and a suflicient washed with a volume of water such that the resulting quantity of a strong acid which is not oxidized and not filtrate, containing iodate ions, was equal in volume to the reduced by said po-lysaccharide to maintain the hydrogen initial reactants. The iodate recovery was 97.5%. ion concentration of said periodic acid solution at below The dialdehyde starch was again washed with Water about pH 1.0 for a time sufficient to produce a per-iodate and dried in an oven to less than 10% moisture. The oxidized polysaccharide and thereafter recovering the product obtained, 18.0 lbs., 4.1% moisture (100.5% of periodate oxidized polysaccharide thereby obtained. theory), was a white free-flowing powder with a residual 2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the strong iodate content of 0.4% and gave a stability test rating acid is selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, of AA. phosphoric acid, and formic acid.

It will be seen from this example that an acceptable 3. -A process according to claim 1 wherein said polyproduct may be obtained by the prior art process. Howsaiccharide is starch. ever, the amount of product obtained per unit volume 4. A process for the periodic acid oxidation of a polyof reactant is extremely low. When the concentration saccharide comprising reacting said polysaccharide with a of the reactant per unit volume is increased an unacperiodic acid solution having a concentration of at least cept-able material is obtained, for example, as shown in bo t 10% b weight of h t l Igagtants having b Example ll above. drogen ion concentration of below about pH 1.0 at a tem- The following example illustrates the preparation of perature of from about 30 C. to 35 C. for from about dialdehyde polysaccharides using appreciably higher con- 3 hours to 5 hours in order to convert said polysaccharide centrations of reactants at below about pH 1.0. to the corresponding dialdehyde polysaccharide and re- EXAMPLE IV covering the dialdehyde polysaccharide thereby produced. 5. A process according to claim 4 wherein said poly- One hundred forty-five Pounds of an aqueous Solution saccharide is starch and said dialdehyde polysaccharide is containing 32.8 lbs. of periodic acid (28.0 weight percent) di ld h d t h, having a pH of 0.6 was placed in the reaction vessel de- 6. A process for the periodic acid oxidation of a polyscribed in Example I above. There was added with sacoharide comprising reacting said polysaccharide with stirring 25.5 lbs. of pearl corn starch (defatted) of 10% a periodic acid solution having a concentration of at least 7 8 about 10% by weightof the total reactants and a hydrogen i 2,606,188 Yelland Aug. 5, 1952 ion concentration of below about pH 1.0 for a time suflicient to produce a periodic oxidized polysaccharide. OTHER REFERENCES Radley: Mfg. Chemist and Mfg. Perfumer, July 1942, References Cited in the tile of this patent 5 XI PP- 158 to 161 and UNITED STATES P ATENTS Mehltretter et -al.: Industrial and Engineering Chemis- Eberl Jan. 16Y F y: NO- 431th PP- 

1. A PROCESS FOR THE PERIODIC ACID OXIDATION OF POLYSACCHARIDES COMPRISING REACTING A POLYSACCHARIDE WITH A SOLUTION OF PERIODIC ACID HAVING A CONCENTRATION OF AT LEAST 10% BY WEIGHT OF THE TOTAL REACTANTS AND A SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF A STRONG ACID WHICH IS NOT OXIDIZED AND NOT REDUCED BY SAID POLYSACCHARIDE TO MAINTAIN THE HYDROGEN ION CENCENTRATION OF SAID PERIODIC ACID SOLUTION AT BELOW ABOUT PH 1.0 FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE A PERIODATE OXIDIZED POLYSACCHARIDE AND THEREAFTER RECOVERING THE PERIODATE OXIDIZED POLYSACCHARIDE THEREBY OBTAINED. 